Full text of "Penman's Gazette"

. 




PUBLISHED MONTHLY, AT 17 to 23 ROSE STREET, SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS PER YEAR, IN ADVANCE. 



G. A. Gaskell, Publisher. 



<;<>i»i Writers 



\\ i give on this pagf ihe portraits of four of 

the best writers among mn -nbsi libers, who ha\c 

rcccnily sent us specimens of their handwriting 

They arc .ill self-taught, having learned at home 

■ H's I ompendium. 

f, W Patton is a very fine writer, and out 

.. i-i.'v- « ill |ii»M>iiini e him the best 

ol iii« foui He is a resident of Jamestown, 

i ihio We don'l know his 01 1 upal bul he 

would make a good writing teacher, we are sure. 

\V. E. Ernst, who looks as if he might, ne 

time in the future— when he grows up anil gets 
.1 link- fatter— get into a judgeship or go lo Con- 
£i. --, i a Mendon. Michigan, lioy. 

I W. PiERCV, Martinsville^ Indiana, writes 
neatly and well. 

r, F. Alcazar, a studenl in the Washington 

and I-ce University, Lexington, Va., makes a 
p .',. l application of systematic penmanship, 
m rapid literary and other work incident to col- 
lege duties. The style Is neat and plain, and 
would satisfy even the most chronic grumbler 

(,:.: .mi hi. I :irv It kimK. \ mi. l\ llllr «r !ia\e 

n in linn. I, we may as well say right here, that, 
in our opinion, Mr. A-'s writing is heller adapted 
in correspondence, records, &c, than either of 
the others. It is a splendid hand, though by no 
mean* i ict one, as the writing master would 






I larvey Neal and George Doe » ere rail 
friends, notwithstanding the fact that they could 
not agree in anything. 

. Being next door neighbors, they had known 
cac| orher as long as each had known himself; 
"l*ii as*faf back as their memories went, they 
. could hardry remember a day on Which they bad 
not had a quarrel of some kind. Yet, as I said, 
they were fast friends; you couldn't find two 
boys in the whole township ol Neat's Palls who 
were more attached to each ottie/ than Har- 
vey and George. 

Then fathers had been Friends before them, 
and, singular enough, never had a quarrel i" 
break the monotony of their peaceful exist* nci . 
except once, when they were young men, and 
came near falling in love with the Same* girl, 
which catastrophe, however, was prevented by 
the appearance of a young lady from Hath, who 
fascinated Joseph Neal to such a degree that he 
took the first opportunity to prop.. . 
was accepted. This left Henry Doc without 
unj dangerous rival to Deacon Brown's daugh- 
ters hand, and what almost would h ■■.' been a 
ble, terminated in a double wedding. 
I - bflxs, As they grew older their 
quarrels den. ■■,. | v disputes. 

One evening, after the chores we 1 1 ,, . 

vey called out to George lo come out for a walk 
.in.-r supper, to which he agreed, and supper 
ovi i they started, 

"George," began Harvey, " 1 h 
on my mind I want to speak to you 

' I lull. .. .iii.-iIk i siln.ni.' [..make a fortune? 

Wi ii let 1 '. ■■ 

■ ■. .I. i hi. too. 

Vou've heard about Squin Wilbur*! m g 

home to-day to spend :i few week* with his 

What of it?" 

"Well, I sav him to-day, and he looks jusl 
is better dressed than the Squire him- 
self, and " 



NEW YORK. MAY. 1883. 



" Pooh," interrupted George ; " I bei that the 
Squire's clothes cost a good deal more. A fefl 
cheap trumperies and your clothes cut in city 
style, and you are a gentleman." 

" He has got no cheap things about him, and 
line -o\ tli.it he is making hits nf money in Chi- 
cago, and I was just thinking why couldn't we go 
and . .1, OUI fortune ?" 

■ ii pshaw* answered I leorge, shrugging his 
shoulders; "what's the good of a fellow leaving 
a good home and friends, and everything, to seek 
his fortune, with one chance in a thousand lo 
find it." 



'If I c 






Mill 



own hand.. 



•1 do: 



. George, I i 



" Well, I guess you won't make it, then. I'd 
KlSl as In I marry a rich gal as not. If you are 
too particular, yon will nevei get rich," said 

" You are only talking, George; yon wouldn't 
do anything wrong for the sake of money, no 
more than I would. Now, hold your tongue for 
a few minutes and I'll tell you my plan. Next 
fall, after the harvest is in, we'll go to Boston 
-Hid work there for Hie winter ; we . .in ihen find 
out how things are. and if we think wc can suc*^>%j 
ceed we'll stay, and if the chances arc not favor- 



her burs 
i.nowt " 



The l**s' 

aii am i» 

Tm.m.'iMl 








" Why, it won't cost hut a few dollaJ 
I've got over twenty-five dollars in my ban] 
we'll go halve! if you haven't ai 

"I had about thirty dollar-, saved up, 
Ccorge. " but when father had that i 
hi didn't 

We are all r 
you ask your father to-morrow, and I'll ask 
morrow night we'll meet again." 
parents made many objection! la 
but a( last consented. 

.iter Harvey bad com rive. 1 the 
plan, tlies left the paternal roof to throw them 
selves upon the mercies of .i busy city world, 
wIi-tc ni.mv .imhitious youths from rural homes 
have been lost fn the crowd, getting rich in ex- 
lemaining financially poor, and. 
alas, too often losing their moral and spiritual 

When the two would-be Vanderbilts armed 
in Boston, they had to shift for themselves, as 
neither had a relative or friend there. 

Having obtained, through the aid of a polirc 
officer, a cheap but respectable boarding hou i 
they immediately commenced to go around see' 
ing the sights, at the same time watching theii 
charge for employment. On the second day 



Harvey, pointing to it. 

"No; you go in first, and if you think the 
work is too hard, I'll go in," proposed George. 

"It won't be what Iwant. This is. ., printing 
office, and I want to get a place in a store where 
f can learn business." 

"Well, Ihen, I'll go in and sec what it i., any. 
way. Von wait till I come back." 

So George went in, and in a few minutes came 
out again. 

"How did you make out?" queried Har- 



vey. 



FOUR 

fortune, and I am sure there's no chi 

and, then, I'm getting sick of farming." 

■• Why. farming is better than to hang a 
a store or a shop nil day. and never sec the s " 
except Sundays. I gue 
it Sunday, because that is the on!) day 
week they get a chance to have .1 look 

"I think," continued George, "that 
make our fortune without sacrificing si 
Why couldn't we marry some rich girl, 

by " 

'■Rich girls be cooked!" retorted 



•RITERS. 

te, we will go back home again. What do 
"| think of that ?" 

As George only spoke as he did foi thi sake 
"argument, it did not lake him long to decide 
■ fjtfoi of Harvey's plan, so he said " That 
■n't a bad pl.-m, bat um h tyenj permission to 
yet, and that won't be easy to 
" We'll gel 11 all the same," laid Harvey, with 
1 determined air ;" we'll talk about it all sum- 
mer, and tease them until ihey get tired of it, and 
then they'll let us go." 

[ guess SO l "t where arc yon going to 
. get your money?" 



" Cot the job. Go to work next Monday " 
" What have you got to do, and how mm h are 
u going to get ?" 

" I've got to assist the man who runs the prooi 

ess, and learn the trade between times. I'll 

lollars a week. That isn't bad to start 

"No you are all right. I'll have 10 skirmish 
around for something now." 

Harvey, however, found it not so easy to fin. I 
what he was looking for, and when George had 
been at work for more than a week, Harvey was 
still "skirmishing around." 

One evening after George came back from 
work, he asked Harvey the usual question : 

" How did you make out to-day?" 

' Didn't make out at all," was the rejoinder. 

" One of the hoys in the shop is going to 
leave, and I guess you can get his job. You'd 
better try to-morrow." 

"I guess not If I once get into a shop I'll 
ti. mi gel 'it of it. If I can'l get a place in a 
store. I will go back home again," answered 
Harvey, with sullen determination. 

"You won't be fool enough to go back home 
to be laughed at." said George " Why, print- 
ing is a good trade. Several prominent men 
began life in a printing office." 

"That may be tnre : but I've my mind made 
up not logo into a workshop, and I won't." 

The following day Harvey wenl into Faneuil 
Hall Market to look for employment While 
asking one of the itallkeepen with ihc usual 
n nli, in old (inner came along, and tapping 
him on the -I I. lei, -..thl ' >. .■ h. 1 



THE PENMAN'S GAZETTE. 



low, I hecrd yc ask thai man for a job, an' I 

though! I mighl give yc one. I want .1 chap i" 

do (he chores lound the place, and fetch my 

stuff to the market when my roomali- is on me, 

an' I'll giv« ye a good home fur the winter. 

NOW, ^ hai 'I" yc say?" 

?' How far out do you live ?" asked Harvey. 

"Onlj a few miles out, Maiden way." 

Harvey though I i few moments and said 

" I'll come with you. with the understanding 

thai 1 ti go if Hjmething better should 



"I 1 



bettei 



)n't keep ye if yc 
yerself," replied farmer Googins. 

They rode over to Harvey's boarding-house 10 
gel hU trunk, and leaving a note for George, 
Harvey went farming again. 

K^pier Googins gave him a good home, not 
han his own, though, but he was near 
and went in once a week to look for the 
wanted. About two months later, on a 
^■May, Harvey had to go to the market 
^We\ Mr. Googins having his " roomatis" on 
hi- way hack he happen, d |<> nolnc .1 
ted in a store window, and on riding 
o it, he read, "An American Boy 
Stopping his team in front of the 
hiell proved to be a furniture establish- 
ment, lie went in and applied for [tie situation 
'"What we want, "said the gentleman lowborn 
he stated his enand, " is a smart boy to grow up 
in the business Wages will be small, with a 
chance for promotion." 

" 1 should like to grow up in the business, but 
as I am alone in the city I should like to have 
wages enough to make my living," was Harvej - 
reply, accompanied with an inquiring look. 

Mi Willows hesitated a few moments, and 

" Our intention was to pay four dollar- a 
week to begin with, but if you want to come we 
will give you five for the first year, provided you 
prove to be wdiat I expect you are." 

" I would liketo come for that, sir, and I will 
try my best." 

" All right. When can you come ?" 
1 \ son as you want me," replied Harvey, 
fagerly " 1 can take the team home and come 
right back." 

" O, you needn't be in such a hurry," said Mr. 

ns --t«crttw*K^ 

enough. What's your name ?" 

" Harvey Neat." 

•' Well, Harvey, I shall expect yon Monday 
morning at eight o'clock." 

The following Saturday, farmer Googins car- 
ried Harvey and his trunk back to his former 
boarding-house, and the two friends were once 
more together. 

HarVe) went to work with a will, and Mi 
Willows was soon satisfied that he had not been 
mistaken in his opinion, and in a few weeks gave 
him a dollar more a week. 

Winter soon passed into spring, but the boys 
did not want to go home yet During the sum- 
mer, Harvey was continually thinking of the 
coming winter evenings. He did not like the 
way he and George had spent their evenings 
thus far. So one day he said to George . 

"Our book-keeper told me thai (here 1-. .1 I ice 
evening school here; don't yon think it would be 
a good plan to attend it next winter, George 

" Well, yes. I guess so," was ihe rather indlf- 

" It's better than loafing around the streets or 
reading a lot of nonsense, anyway. 1 am going 
to find out about it." 

He soon found out. and when the wintei term 
commenced, Harvey took up grammar, hisi.ny 
and penmanship, while George confined himself 
to grammar only. Harvey put his whole soul 
into his studie -, thus making good progress, and 
George soon found himself left behind. 

When Harvey had been with Willows Si I 

a year, he was called into the office, where Mr. 
Willows spoke to him as follon - 

" Harvey, owing to general depression in busi- 
ness, ,\nd this dull -ea-on 111 particular, we have 
come to the conclusion lo" — he hesitated ; seeing 
the anxious expression in Harvey's face, lie con- 
tinued, smiling : " we have concluded to pay you 
seventy-five dollars mure for the coming year, 
and in recognition of your faithfulness and indus. 
try, wc have credited you on our bonks with two 
hundred dollars, as an encouragement.' 

Surprised. Harvey muttered something about 
" doipg his best," etc., and went to work with 
renewed energy. 

Rv close economv and with ilo- ad 



■ ion had a few dollars together. 
rh« :maJl nm he had thus acquired he invested 
in the most profitable manner. With it he paid 
his tuition for a regular evening course in a busi- 
ness college. 

With his increasing knowledge, and having a 
natural tact to take hold at the right time and in 
proper place, he became very profitable io 
the firm. The result was, that at the end of three 
years his saiarj was raised to six hundred a year, 
tnd ' thousand dollars tohis credit on the firm's 

G ", die meantime, was learning his 

trade and receu ing ten dollars a week, with the 

promise of journeyman's wages in a few months. 

However, he was not satisfied. Although city 

life had its attractions for him. yet the constant 

11 linemen t was more than he could stand. He 

■ntimially thought and spoke about going farm- 

g again. He was getting thin and pale, and 

late had been rather quiet. One day Harvey 

id ' \\ bat's the matter with you, George, you 

n't what you used to be." 

" O, lam getting sick and tired of the shop 
id the city. I am longing to breathe the fresh 
country air once more," answered George. 

'It's just as father told me," continued he ; 
• Go to the city, learn a trade, get married on 
wo or three dollar- a lay, and live from hand 
o mouth until your children are old enough to 
.upport you. I can see it all coming, and want 

Why don't you go home ; they'll be glad lo 
get you back again." 

Go home to get laughed at !" answered 
George. " No, sir. I am going West." 

" Go West ! That isn't bad. Tell me what 
your plan is. and perhaps I'll go with you, 

1 Mv plan 1- to go i" Colorado and watch my 
chance ; don't you think of going, though ; your 

■ li. ■ in good here, and don't be foolish 

enough to throw them 



" I am very glad of it, but it is no more than 
I expected of you I am doing pretty w» II, too 
1 own my ranch with [oo head of sheep along 
without a partner to quai n 

years I expect to own one of the largest *Jnfcp 
ranches in Colorado. Thai is better than sling- 
ing type. Hut here is the old house again." 

And in they went, 

They spent a few days pleasantly together, 
being the envy of all the boys at Seal's Falls, 
and many of them resolved to go and do likewise. 



.ihn h. 



vhen 



mid be foolishness, 
. to keep togethei 



but, 



" Yes, I suppose it v 
then, I would like for 
plied Harvey. 

" So would I ; but our roads branch out in 
different directions, I guess; I don't want to 
swell the ranks of overworked and underpaid 
mechanics, const quently I can'l and won't stay 
.mi L.11 u Be ., fool li you didn't stay ; so thai 
settles 11 " 

After some more talking and planning, George 
made up his mind to go to the Far West, and 
threw up hissiiLi.itu.il. Harvey having obtained 
a week's leave of absence, the two friends spent 
a week together at their homes. The week went 
quickly by and they separated, George to seek 
his fortunes or misfortunes in Colorado ; Harvey 
to return to the routine of the -tore 

As my limited space does not allow me to do 
more than give a simple outline of the lives of 
the« two country lads, I cannot stop to tell the 
adventures of George in the Far West, or the 
experiences of Harvey in Boston, but must skip 
,1 period of six years, when we meet them again 
at the homes of their boyhood, 

It was on a line August day that they met, by 
appointment, at the little depot. Harvey was a 
fine looking young man, sporting a moustache, 
and looking fully as well as the squire's son, 
whom he had envied so much ten years ago. 

George is a comfortable looking western man, 
being considerably developed physically, in 
Colorado's, pure air. 

After the first greetings were over, George 
said 

"It was true what I said six years ago, Har- 
\ey, that our roads were running out into differ- 
ent directions. As soon as I got in Colorado, I 
felt at home ; though I had rather hard luck at 
first, I am all right now, and I wouldn't give up 
my freedom and independence out there for a 
fortune in Boston." 

'■ I suppose not," replied Harvey. " You 

nevei k< med to thrive in the city. Well, some 
people ire born for the city and others for the 
Country I. for instance, always enjoyed «ty 
life, and still do. I like the rustle and bustle of 
a city, it has something fascinating for me. 
The crowd running to and fro; the immense 
business done ; the stores with their displays, 
and the competition in trade— if is all decidedly 
to me Moreover, my prospects are 
very good. I haven't told you yet, hut by the 
in-i ,.! I unary I will be taken in as a partner ; 
Mr Broofts, the senior partner, is then going to 
retire, and we shall continue the business under 
th. firm nami ol Willoi 



Fer th* Ptnman't GaMtt*% 

The Writing Prize. 



It was the afternoon session at the harhy 
District School. The scholars— boy- ami girls 
— had all taken their seats and prepared foi the 
usual exercises, when a tap of the bell drew their 
attention to the desk which stood at one end of 
the long room. The teacher, a middle aged 
lady, whose broad forehead, large nose and very 
firmly set mouth, together with an ereel and 
dignified carriage, betokened great strength of 
character, stood up behind her desk, and, with 
one hand still resting on the little bell, thus ad- 
dressed her pupils : 

"Children, I have a litth surprise foi you this 
afternoon, In obedience to a suggestion made 
by the trustees of this school at their last meet- 
ing, and through the liberality of Mi I'.ivnc, I 
am about to offer a prize to the scholai who, at 
the end of this week, can show the neale-l, besi 
written and most correct copy of 'Gray's Eleg] ' 
The prize will be a crisp, new ten dollai bill " 

A low murmur of approbation ran through the 
room when Miss Wylde (for thai was (he teai It- 
er's name) ceased speaking. The scholars ex- 
changed glances and whispers, which plainly 
showed their delight and the determination of 
each to win the prize. Another tap of the bell 
called them to order again, and Miss Wylde 
continued . 

" The contest is to begin this afternoon. Each 
of you, by coming up to the desk, will be sup- 
plied with paper on which to write the poem, 
jy h ich you can copv from youueail. - 1;, > 
careful in copying it — always to leave one line 
between each verse, and number each stanza, 
just as you find it in the book. Use new pens, 
and see that your ink is in good condition, your 
bands perfectly clean, and put a writing book 
beneath your paper, -o that you do not write on 
the hard desk. Now, come up, beginning at 
this end of the table, anil receive your paper." 

The scholars then proceeded in single tile to 
the teacher's desk and obtained several sheets of 
foolscap apiece, with which they returned to 
their seats, and for a few moments produced 
quite a bustle with then eager preparations for 
the grand trial of skill in penmanship. 

A number of the younger boys held up their 
rather too brown hands and asked to go and 
wash them ; others found that their ink was too 
thick or too thin, or in some one ol tile other 
unfortunate condition- into which school ink so 
often gets ; and still other-, having no pens suf- 
ficiently good for their purpose, had to borrow 
from their companion ,, so ili.n for a time the 
school room was thrown into a state of complete 
disorder and confusion, during win. h the leu her 
sat composedly on her throne, giving advice 
here and reproof there, gradually restoring her 
little realm to a state of order and quiet in- 

Before long fifty pens were moving slowly and 
carefully over as many sheets of paper and in 
as many different styles of chirography. There, 
a) one end of the long table, sat Johnny Sawyer, 
whose hand, in spite of all he or his teacher 
could do, would persist in clutching ilu pen as 
though it never intended to release it . con** 
quently his letters looked 

some standing atwwgW up, others leaning to the 
ufi, and some few in the propel direction 
However, he was gradually improving and if 

h- sat there, leaning intenth overfill paper, fife 

whole countenance beaming with ambition, his 

all) appearing 1 omii alb h.-i rt . <_-u 

li.-. hp- when lie struggled Willi .1 dirluull letter, 
aid In- bright ha/el e)cs turning from book to 
puper and back again, he was a Capil ll >p< 1 imen 
of the average country schoolboy. 

A little further down the table sat Joe Willis, 
a Ijoy who was just the counterpart of Johnnie 
iu every respect He had very light blue eyes. 



tc turned them ll] f m, 

■ 

and nlmosi feminine in 
kness, .md ins face wore an expression oi 

glc'il nil., icl an. I aiiil.iMoii. .1 - lie guided I" - 

pen from one tnA hi the line to Ihe other, with 
a hand to small and whiii th it it mighl have 

been taken for a girl's. His penmanship was 
excellent ; ever) letter was evenly ami uni1.>rmlv 
written, and every shade was jusl at the proper 
plai e and of the proper ihu kness. But he wrote 
very slowly indeed , he seemed actually to draw 
eachletter.ahabit whi. h, although hi- teacheJ 
strongly discouraged it, he either could not 01 
did not care to give up. lie was |h, vounges! 

boy iu the school, being only eleven 

and at the same time the best writer, The 

othei si holars, when they bet ami dis agi d <i 

their slow improvement, would -ay disconsc^ 
lately; " Oh, what's the use ! I can nevei write 
like Willis, anyhow !" 

The lower half of ihi table WftS occupied by 
girls, twenty-five m number, and whose iges 
varied between twelve and seventeen. The 
majorit) of them were the daughters of fanners 
in. I nn'i ham. -, plainly .hes-cii. and having that 
appearance of semi-poverty, which caused them 
to he looked down upon by the two Ol three 
daughters of wealthy merchants, who attended 
the school merely because thi n was no othea to 

the place. One of these superior young ladies, 
whom we will call Jessie Campton, ml at th. 
end of the table nearest the teacher's desk She 
was a large, hearty looking girl of seventeen, 
with long black hair, which hung in a single plait 
to her waist, dark eves, which Hashed proudly 
from beneath long lashes, and full, red lip*. 
Her father Was the wealthiest man in the town, 
and tamed on the large -t business, facts 1 
which Miss Jessie seemed to be fully CI 
as she sal ihere proudly wielding her ivory pen. 
holder with her right hand, while the I. \> \.\\ ■ 
the desk in such a way as to display the splendid 
gold bracelet on her wrist. In spite of her 1 
ity. however, she was handsome , and many < 
the more aspiring larger boys sitting at the fur- 
ther end of the table stole furtive glan. ee al thj 
belle of the school, and laid schemes to meet her 
liei down the village 
I 

writer; her letters were small and neat, and so 
easily legible, they looked almost as though j 
they had been printed. She and Joe Willi-, m 
fact, stood ahead of all Ihe other scholars in pen- 
manship, a fact of which they were all aware, 
and consequently looked upon them as the ones", 
who would have the best prospect ..I winning 

But lb ere Was one other girl who « a- .Ic-hm-d 

to play an important part iu the contest. Nellie 
and brown indeed she 
but also in complexion, 
a blonde, and the only 
ry round about — a fact \ 
omewhat envied bj somj 



Brown was her m 

and dress. She 

blonde in all the 1 

which caused her ti 

of the other girls, who were so uri 

to have been born with a very white skin. 

Nellie was a very poor girl. Her parents both 1 
worked hard all day, that they might be able to 
send her to school. She was keenly conscious of 
this, and being an affectionate daughter, she 
often begged them to let her leave tin schom 

and get to work also She didn'i can to | 

that horrid school ; the other girls didn't like 
her, and the boys always called her "little 
brownie''' Hut no; her parents insisted that I 
she should stay at school yet and learn all she 
could; the time would come soon enough for"! 
her 10 get to work, but it wasn't necessan BOM 

And she did learn. Naturally bright and in- ( 
telligent, she rapidly outstripped most girls of 
her own age, and some who were older . -o that 
now, at fourteen, she *■■»■> equal in attainments 

tO pr > J«*K Campton, three \c.u- her senior. I 

Tin- fail was one ot the many imaginary and 
highly unnecessary drawbacks to fessic's happi- 
I 'hat -he, the .laughter of the 
richest man for twenty unlr- around, should be : 
equalled iu accomplishments by Nellie lirown, 
whose fathei worked in the factory, and when 
mother took in sewing ol tl"- plainest sort and J 

lived in a horrid little flOUS 

was almost more than she could beat even to I 
think of ' 

A quartei of an hour before dismissing the 
school, Miss Wylde walked around the lahle 
and earefully examined the work of each pupil, I 
purposely, however, making no 1 riticisms, When 
she returned to her desk she wore a pleased and J 



^ 



THE PENMAN'S GAZETTE. 



sjtisticd look, and, tapping the bell, told the 
scholars to put away their work but remain 
quiet, as she wished to say something. 

"' Oti looking over your paper.-,' she began, 
■ i ma pie ised i ad in omi i sses surprised, to 
sec how well you can write if you only wish to ; 
partli ularlj wa this thi i b ■■■ with the boys. 
Vou may be sure, also, that I have formed a 
pretty clear ide.i as to who will be th 
one in the competition , but it would not be fair 
(01 me i" say who I think it is ; it would create 

disappointment, and thus (riistiate the main ob- 
ject which Mr. Payne had in view when he made 
[his offer, namely, the stimulation of a desire of 
improvement among you. .-/// of you do your 
very best . and then, although only one of you 

can win the prise, you will havi gained - - 

thing which will be of permanen 



Altc 



tins link- 



ch she 



smissed her 

:, in little 
gh the town 



pupils, who left the school room 

"Good by, Miss Wilde;" and 
groups, others alone, scattered tli 
to their homes. 

I >. iik | I should have said before, was a small 
town in the sunny South. It was the county 
seat of one of the northern counties of Alabama, 
and contained only about one thousand inhabi- 
tants. Beside! the little church on the hillside. 
there was a large cotton factory in the western 
part ol the town, also the court house and 'he 
school house. These buildings, together with 
many pretty homes and a few pretentions look- 
ing stores, formed the town in which my story is 



one else in the school in tr\ to make the best 
copy of the Elegy while Joe Willis was at it. So 
now you see Nellie Drown has a rival, and in my 
opinion it will be a pretty close struggle." 

Self assured Grace, in reply to this news, said; 
" Who cares for Joe Willis ! He's only a little 
snip of a boy, who gets scared whenever he sees 
a girl, and sits by the fire reading, when other 
ful , boys are out coasting and skating. 1 wouldn't 
give a snap for him, even if be was my 
brother." 

I his l« iv unkind speech nettled Will., who 
was n brave, manly youth, and a defender of all 
In 1 1, bo] lie retorted warmly; 

" I don't think you know quite as much about 
Joe as you think you i]u. Miss Hill, or you 
wouldn't ndicule him and his tastes. If a boy 
prefers reading to coasting, he has a perfect 
right to read ; and besides, now I think of it, I 
myself saw him anil his little sister coasting on 
1'eat Hill only last winter, so that charge is 
groundless. And as for his being afraid of girls, 
what you choose to call fear is only modesty, for 
which I respect him all the more, much more 
than I do a girl who can speak up to any man 
or hoy without the least reserve, or even so 
muLhasa blush." 

After this rebuke Grace was silent, and arriv- 
ing at her home a little later, ascended the steps 
with a cool gnod-by to her escort, and a scarcely 
audible " Thank you," when he handed her her 
books. The rest of the party quickly separated 
their respective homes, Phil a'nd Jessie having 



1 el u- follow that group of boys and girls ju>t 
emerging bom the school house, and It 
their animated conversation as they walk slowly 
along the street. There are three of the largest 
boys, each with .1 girl under his manly escort. 
Phil Harrishas captured Jessie Campion, and 
walks proudly along, swinging her books in his 
hand, with his own under his arm ; next comes 
Ed. Carleton with Annie Lewes; and last is 
Will, Sawyer, fohnnie's big brother, guarding 
Grace Hill from the dangers of the highway. 
All six live at the further end of the town, and 
so have quite a walk before them, for which ihe 
boys, at least, are not sorry. 

" Is -j'i< i^ii,!. ..u.i 7>t"siu, '"rtlaT-Mr. 

Payne offered such a prize this time ! That 
book he gave to the best declaimer two years 
ago wasn't worth having ; ii was a lot of lectures 
to girls by an obscure somebody or other, and 
Lulu Drake said she couldn't read a page in it 
without getting sleepy. 1 think il's much nicer 
to give money, because then, you know, you can 
get whatever you want with it. If I win it, the 
nr>t thing I get will be a pair of those eardrops, 

that Allakes have in their window. They're " 

"Don't count your chickens before they're 

hatched. Miss Jessie," broke in An ; "] 

watched Miss Wylde when she went around 
looking at our papers, and she stopped much 
longer at Nellie Brown's lhau at any one else's. 
She looked at Nellie's writing with an expression 
that seemed to say, 'here is the girl whowill get 
ihe prize,' 1 sit oppusile Nellie, and after Miss 
Wylde had gone up to the boys, 1 looked 
Nellie's paper, and positively I never saw such 
pretty writing in my life ! She always was a 
good writer, but to-day she fairly outdid herself; 
if she don't get the prize I'll be astonished," 

'Vou don't say so'" and -Really!" burst 
from the lips of the other two girls, quite drown- 
ing the remarks of their companions Girls .,1- 
way- do much more i.dki,^ ,„ a given time than 
the same number of boys. 

"Oh, pshaw !" said Grace, who was exceeding- 
ly proud of herown handwriting, " Nellie Brown 
hasn't got the least shame ! Don't 
how Mi>s Wylde always talks to her about her 
capital G's and F's and a whole Lot of others? 
And then, too, that she, (he daughter of a fac- 
tory hand, should win the writing pri t in om 
school i impossible and absurd •" and proud 
Grace l >iu he. nose in an. fully cerf tin thai the 
prize would be hers, and hers alone 
"Well, now that you talkati 

l»ave given your opin s I'll 

mine," said Phil 

■ m ilwayi have 
such odd ones, il's real amusing lo listen to 

" I think," he continued, " that 

looks al Joe Willis' paper would 

will leave everybody else, even a c 

girl, far behind. I sii next to him, and took th 

liberty of examining his paper, .iud at om,.- cam 

lu the conclusion thai it was ol" no use for an' 



the farthest t 



re to give 



y that Joe 
pretty 



s go back to the school house 
find Nellie, the despised com- 
petitor. Yes, there she goes, quite by herself, 
but looking so happy we can almost imagine her 
to have such thoughts as these : "Oh, if I can 
only win the pri/.e, how happy we will all be '■ 
Ten dollars ! why, that'll get mamma a new 
dress, a lot of wood, and — yes, then I can have 
a new dress too, and put away this old brown 
calico. How cross it always makes me when the 
boys call me ' little brownie !' But, never mind, 
they won't do it much longer, for— oh, but I for- 
get ; I haven't got the money yet. I wonder 
why Miss Wylde looked at my writing so very 
long, and then she looked at me so pleased, and 

i"" ; "'' : ' si *j tetite '■ : ■ 

that unless she is pleased ; but then Grace Hill 
and a lot of the other girls write better than I 
'lo still, I'll try my very best, as teacher said." 

Nellie's way led her but a short distance down 
the main thoroughfare, and then turned off into 
a narrow side street, on which lived most of the 
people who worked in the factory. The home 
of the Browns stood by itself in a large lot quite 
at Ihe end of the street ; it was a small building, 
but ils plainness was very much relieved by the 
vines which trailed up the pillars of the little 
porch and extended along the walls beneath the 
windows. As Nellie drew near her home she 
was surprised lo see ihe shutters of her mother's 
room bowed close, instead of wide open, as she 
had been accustomed to see them. Surmising 
evil, she hastened to the room, but was met at the 
door by her elder sister Lizzie, who stopped her 
with "'Sh- mamma's sick wilh headache ami 
fever, and you niustn'L disturb her " 

"Sick !" broke in Nellie, astonished that her 
mother, who was generally so well, should sud- 
denly be seized with ill-heallh. " Why, Lizzie 
what made her sick all at once?" 

" Well, die told me it was from her worrying 
so about Ihe rent; she said she couldn't sleep 
nights of late, she was so puzzled and troubled 
to know where the money was lo come from. It's 
just ten dollars short, and how lo raise those ten 
dollars is what troubles her so. The rent falls 
due next week, you know, and if we can't gel 
the money by that time, we'll have to leave 

•'<>li. Lizzie, if mamma only hadn't got sicl I 
Why, just this very afternoon in school, Miss 
Wylde told us Mr. Payne had offered a prize ol 
len dollars for the best copy of a c 
and wi ■_ enced to-day, i lh, 1 i 

feel certain I'll get il, and if I do 
the rent, o nil be all right. If I 
the prize !" 

' K thai reall) true, Nellie ?" exclaimed hei 
astonished sister, when, bom want of breath, 
Nellie stopped in hei hasty ti trration 

" Yes, indeed it is ! hut we must tell mamma ; 
I'm sure it will make her well again if she hears 
the good uews." 

In her eagerness -he would have rushed right 
a upon her mother, had not Lizzie caught her 
lastily and held hei back, saying : 



" No. no. child, not now; she hat 
into a little sleep, the first she's hid for |om< 
houis Wait until she gets awake, she'll feel 
better then, and will be able to bear this good 
news. Really, it seems too good to be true. Nel- 
lie, you must try your utmost ; remember that, 
to far as we know, out home depends on your 
success ; lake the greatest pains with every 
stroke of every letter. What is it that you're 
copying?" 

" Gray's Llegy," calming down somewhat, 
and hanging up her things in their accustomed 
place. She then joined her sister in preparing 
the evening meal. Her zeal in the writing en- 
terprise was so great that it overflowed into the 
work of peeling potatoes and cutting bread and 
frying bacon lo such an extent that the supper 
was ready some lime before her falher came 
home from the mill. In the meantime she busied 
herself with her lessons for the next day ; his- 
tory and arithmetic both were mastered by the 
time Mr. Brown, tired and hungry, sat down 
wilh his two daughters to their humble meal. 

All this time the sick mother slept on ; and 
with each moment Nellie's impatience lo tell 
her of the good fortune that seemed almosl 
ready to fall upon them increased, till at last, 
when a creaking of the bed and a deep sigh 
proceeded through the half open door, she fairly 
ran to the bedside, exclaiming : 

" Oh, mamma, how do you feel now J It is 
too bad you worried so about ihe rent. We'll 
have i Ik- money all safe, I'm pretty sure." 

" Why, my child, whal are you talking about ? 
Where will you get the money from ? I'm wor- 
ried day and night aboul it, and can't find any 
way to get it. Bring me some water, Nellie," 
said Mrs. Brown, faintly, pressing her forehead 
with her hands, and trying to get into a comfort- 
able position. Nellie brought a tumbler of wa- 
ter, and, waiting till her mother had composed 
herself, related the occurrences of the afternoon, 
dwelling strongly upon her hopes of winning 
Ihe much needed prize. 

" Well, this is, indeed, a god-send," said Mrs. 
Brown, when her daughter had finished, "and 
wc cannot be too grateful for it. Only remem- 
ber, Nellie, thai ihe money is not yet in our 
hands, and thai others may win it, although 
chan ces are indeed good. So all we can do 



nid, beckoning to ihe nthers to be quid, led her 
back to her scat, where, quite overcome, she 
hid her face in hei arm- on the table, and gave 
way to hei feelings. Miss Wylde, after a few 
"ords of commendation to ihe others, dismissed 
them for the rest of the afternoon , and then, 
when every one had gone, ami -he and Nellie 
were alone in the room, she went to the girl, 
and, sitting down beside her, succeeded, by u 
few kind nor, I, .m.l caresses in somewhat calm- 
ing her feelings. Raising her flushed and tear- 
stained face. Nellie said : 

"Miss Wylde, pou will think I'm an awfullj 
foolish girl, but you don'i know how anxious I 

■' No, Nelbe , l don'i think you al all foolish , 

it was only natural that when your suspense and 

anxiety were so suddenly turned inio certaiat) 

and joy, you should give waj lnteai>. Put why 
were you so very desirous of being th 

Quiti won bj the teacher's kindness, 
related how hi mothei bad worried herself 
about the rent, and how Ihe Offering of 
prize had been -o timely an opportunity 
ing up ihe deficiency 

Miss Wylde listened with surprise 
words, for. although an excellent teacher in 
every other respect, she had never interested 
hei ielf much in Ihe home life of her pupils ; and 
this revelation of want in the home of one of 
her scholars astonished her not a little. Rising 
from her seat, and taking the hand of the uov, 
calm and happy girl in both of hers, she said : 

"Well, Nellie, you have doubly deserved ihe 
prize, not only by your excellent writing, but 
by the devotion lo yourparents and home, which 
prompted you to try so hard for it Now, take 
it home to your mother, and remember that you 
have me as a friend in any trouble." 

And wilh a happy heart and bright face Nellie 
hastened home, with the well earned prize safe 
in her pocket. 




s to trust in God, and. if He should 

o help us in this way, to believe lhat he 

how us some other. I feel better already, my 



: that your good 

vgo and nelp Urate get 

now, I hope, I will be 



, 1 almost 



daughi 

the cause of it. Bui 
things in order ; to- 
about myself again " 

Passing quickly over the intervening days, let 
us look again into the school room, on the Fri- 
day afternoon appointed for awarding the prize. 
The scholars, wilh bright, eager faces turned 
toward Ihe teacher's desk, are all in their places. 
There is Jessie, proudly erect, and looking fully 
certain of her success. Next to her is Grace, 
equally positive in her own mind that she will 
be the winner. Across the table sits Nellie, with 
an intensely anxious face and a heart beating so 
hard she can almosl hear it in the expectant si- 
lence of Ihe room. 

Miss Wylde is silling behind her desk, and has 
been employed in looking over and arranging 
(he scholars' papers. Now she has Imished, ami, 
rising, says : 

"Well, children, I can see lhat you are all 
waiting and anxious to hear the result of your 
labors. I this morning submitted your papers 
to three of the school committee, who carefully 
examined each one, and came to a unanimous 
decision as to whose was the best. One of the 
girls is Ihe winner, next to her stand- one of 
the boys; and ihe two copies were so nearly 
ecpjal that it took some time lo decide which was 
ihe better ; but so -mall a matter us the omission 
of an i dot caused ihe boy's copy to be imperfect, 
and male ihe girl the successful one. The name 
of thai girl is Nellie Brown, who will step for- 
ward al once and receive ihe prize." 

Nellie, whose heart had, s.. to say, been up in 
her throat while Miss Wylde was speaking, 
fairl) lumped when her name was called, al- 
though -he had been eagerly hoping lhat she 
might win in the contest. But now lhat the 
suspense and uncertainty were all over, -he was 
so overpowered with joy that tears sprang to hei 
eyes, and it was only with great difficulty that 
she found her way to the desk, and with a vio- i 
lently trembling hand received the prize. 



A Fine Book. 

[From the louitBiUl HiM* a tut Farm \ 
We have received from Professor ir A Gas- 
II a copy of his " Penman's Hand Hook." 

'w^cr%W . 

alphabets used by different nations It contains 
handsomely engraved plates of all kinds of pen- 
manship, and must have been published at a 
large outlay of money. 

The Newport, R. I, Aftreury says: "A pen- 
drawing by Mr W. A. Juigens of this city. It 

is his first attempt and the result of a few n ti 

practice, his only instructor being Gaskell's Pen- 
man's Hand Book. Pen-drawing Is considered 
the most difficult of all kinds of penmanship." 

Valuable Information. 

Elko, Nevada, March 19, 1883. 

To the Editor of the Penman's Gazette: 

I am greatly pleased with your papei and its 
spicy articles. Three years ago we were visited 
here by a writing teacher who couldn't write 
very well, hut he drew .1 good deal of money out 
of the place. Being anxious lo learn something 
about India ink, I asked him how he mixed it. 
"Aha !" said ihe teacher, "thai is the secret 
There are some sixty different ingredients in It, 
aud I will leach you how to mix it, and how tu 
enlarge pictures, for one hundred dollars 



This man found 


ixteen others who were fools 


enough to pay him 


one hundred dollars apiece 


for this valuable 


iformation, in all — sixteen 


hundred dollars. 




Hi- specimens n 


ust have been done by -,0111c 


one else, as his o\ 


11 penmanship, what we saw 



Wylde 



An Ajneri an firm is aboul to publish, foi the 

use oi imerii ans, the " imperial I lie ary 0! 

the English Language,'' which is the standard 111 

1 ireai Britain, 1 hh work wdi be in exaci re 
prim ol the English, We shall be disappointed 
if this dictionary has much of a sale ; certainly 11 
will never be followed to any extent by Ameri- 
cans, The American standards, W 

Worcester, are authorities so much better, thai it 
will require more than the announcement of the 



d .ill the icholaia were g 
Nellie display such em 
isely said nothing at the 






cram buoi tlii- reprint is receiving I 
ible or popular book 1 



THE PENMAN'S GAZETTE. 



t 



KNMANS 1 GAZETTE. 

-■ ^5— 



New York, May, 1883, 



i'. \ Gaskell, Proprietor. 

All Utters should in- addressed as follmos : 
G. A. GASKELL, 

P. 0. Box 1534, 

New York City P. 0. 
>'r keeping this in mi'!,/ much time will 




n page 5 of this issue one of the 
liabets, for pen lettering, ever published. 
1'his alphabet alone is worth more lli.m the i OSl 
tf the paper for the year. 



The next meeting of the Business College 
Association will lake place in t e City of Wash- 
ington, beginning Tuesday. July n>. A large 

attendant e j- expected, and it is hoped the con- 
trention will be (he most satisfactory ever held by 
iin \ssociation. 



A correspondent gives us the name- ul a I'm 
business college men, anyone of whom In would 
like to see made president of the International 
Business College Association. They are; S. S. 
Packard, II. E Hibbard, W. II Sadler, Henry 
■ Spencer, I. E. Soule. 



The Book-keeper publishes the portraits of tin 1 
officers of the Institute of Accountants and 
Hook-keepers of New York. At least two of Lhem 
are business college graduates. Mr Kield, the 
vice-president, attended a night school, "in 
""'' ' ; " h ' ,lllll ^'' f _^.'- ri - , ">uk-Ii££rii:i-" i" I W 
N Klflhunf.tlR secretary, we rememoei ., a pupil, 
some ten years ago, of the business college at 
Manchester, N. H. The portraits are hand- 
somely executed. 



plain hand, 



■■IK. 



If Mr. !i wish c , 1,, write a correct hand, he 
should study the formation of the letters given 
in any good business style, and practice them. 

It will require but little practice to improve 
greatly in this respect. Like many others his 
present handwriting is 100 large. A smaller 
hand is just as legible, more compact, can be 
written much more easily, and looks a great deal 



Ashtabula County, Ohio, the hotbed of abo- 
litionism, the home of John Brown, of loshua K, 
biddings, ul old Ilea Wade, has done its share of 
literary and educational work. 

W It llowells began his career there, in Ins 
father's printing office at Jefferson; Tourgee, 
the ed lor of /'lie Continent, and other well 
known literary men, are from "benighted Ash- 
tabula." 

Not the least among these, in the reform he 
inaugurated, was a teacher of penmanship, who 
had settled with bis family at Geneva, Ohio, and 
who taught writing in the villages near his 


IK differed somewhat from the ordinary type 
"i teachers, in that he was more painstaking, 
and had huh,' respect ami affection for the ait 
he taught His pupils became impressed with 
a desire to write well, and many oi them bet ame 
i' .1. hei of writing. 

I ran I small beginning in the backwoods of 
Ohio the- style of penmanship he taught has 
spread to the cities, and to-day is the one Ameri- 
can style. I'. R. Spencer, though working 
quietly and modestly, was a benefactor to his 
mee, and wc are glad to learn that a testimonial 
is to be erected i" his memory. 



C II Pierce, of Keokuk, whose contributions 
to our contemporaries, though rather plentifully 
sprinkled with italics and big capitals, are never- 
theless not generally far out of the way, says in 
the Universal Penman : 



udgmcnl are the base o 



s thai ..( 












Hingis a high order of d 






without . 



good, plai 



Children may learn to write 
hand, but a genuine business si 
extensive practice. Parents canno. expe 
children, of fiveor six years to start right off c 
a rapid business hand. 



The last report of the Commissioner of Edu- 
cation gives the whole number of business col- 
leges and commercial schools in the United 
States as two hundred, These are located princi- 
pally in the larger cities, though some of them 
are connected with other colleges and schools, 
and are called commercial departments. Among 
these are the Commercial Department of St. 
Louis University, Business Department of Ml. 
Union College, etc. 

They aim to give exactly the same instruction 
as the I m lilies-, colleges do, but, so far as our own 
experience goes, their course is very meagre and 
unsatisfactory. 

The commissioner would do well to omit all 
such schools from his business college report. 

Business colleges have become an educational 
forte of no mean power. Thousands of stu- 
dents attend them every year, and go out from 
engage in the busy world, prepared to 



1 then 



sring, 



The old Bryant i; Slratton chain has been suc- 
ceeded by the Business Educators' Association, 
which now embraces, all repnl^l* inctiMwrni ?t 
that kind throughout the country. The next 
meeting .if this association will take place at 
Washington, D. C. July 10, and will continue 
for four days. 

We hope to be present, and add one to a large 
number who will make the convention a grand 



Much has been said of late in regard to orna- 
mental pen man ship, and the advisability of keep- 
colleges do not teach it among the business 
branches, of course; and some of the fanatical 
go so far as to refuse to hang up an advertising 
card that has a few lithographic nourishes on 
it. But this is going a trifle too far. 

There is nothing that attracts people's at- 
tention like a grand specimen of off-hand pen- 
manship ; and if, instead of the ordinary litho- 
graphs, these schools would use handsomely 
engraved penmanship, their show cards would be 
valuable and worth preserving. 

The country is flooded with colored prints, 
advertising patent medicines, tobacco, cigarettes, 
and thousands o( other trash, and a genuine de- 
parture from these is appreciated. 

Don't decry ornamental penmanship. We 
might as well discard all kinds of artistic work 
in evi ry Shape, on the gound that it cannot be 

That it pays to be a good ornamental penman, 
as well as a line business writer, is shown by the 
success attending those who do hr.st-ciass work 
of that character. 



[For the Penman's Gasette.] 

GaSkell'fl IVimiitii's Handbook. 



lln^ 1, a new book by C. A. Caskell, of New 
V'ork, just published and presented to the people 
of the United States, and we are asked our 

oplnl i it and its merits. We have been not 

onlj CXi ei dlngly gratified with a careful perusal 
ul tin. book, but give, without the least hesita- 
tion, our opinion of it. Gaskell's Handbook is 
a superb volume of nearly 300 pages, mostly 
plates. Here are grouped together the finest 

Worl Of .ill the penmen of the >wrld, and the 



of it must have cost a great deal of 
money. In type, illustrations and size, the book 
is exactly adapted to the use of penmen and 
learners Books, like other things, perish with 
time, but this, with fair usage, will last hun- 
dreds of years. 

The great European masters whose grand 
drawings illustrate our finest books, and make 
valuable our most priceless plates, it seems, are 
pen-artists as well. With great labor and judi- 
cious selection, there has been placed within our 
reach, at last, what we need from European 
sources as well as American, for a guide. 

On pages 30. and 40, there is a ribbon alpha- 
bet of 1547. The base is dotted black, on which 
is another of scroll, and an opening bud. To 
this ground a wonderful richness is added by a 
second ground of scrolls in black. The two pre- 
pare the way for the lettering in light. The 
lettering is in continuous kinked or folded rib- 
bon. It is of the most ingenious description. 
The curves, and points, and turns, are all in har- 
mony with the most exact rules of design. 
There is none of the feebleness of the American 
ribbon designing in this alphabet. The relief 
lines, together with the others, give to it great 
beauty and strength. The student would do 
well to both copy and study these plates and neat 
designs, and resketch these alphabets. From 
these numerous ancient alphabets we find that 
as early as the sixteenth century the penmen of 
Europe were indeed masters of lettering. 

f"i<- 45 "/'I" Handbook. 

1. Alphabets by William Jones. 

We would first say in these observations, 
that Jones' inscription to Sir Win. Beechey is a 
card in as elegant and refined a manner as the 
best of to-day. 

2. There are on page 48 two alphabets. — 1. 
German Text. — 2. Old English. The German 
is fair, but the old English is extremely fine ; we 
scarcely need go farther for good old English. 

3. These are followed by one each of Church 
text and engrossing text. Both are good, but 
the church text is brilliant ; we may say perfect. 

On Page 53 we come to " A. CaUI.o's 
20 alphabets. 

I. Block alphabet. 

3. Ornamented Gothic block alphabet 

4. Ray shaded outline text alphabet, block. 

5. Ornamented script alphabet— block-relief. 

6. Rustic alphabet. 

7. Roman block alphabet — slight relief. 

8. Side block alphabet— bold relief. 

i» Extended ornamental Gothic alphabet. A 
grand alphabet for pen design. 

10. Grotesque alphabet. Each letter being a 
key to a new set. This alphabet is in scroll and 
flower ; ornamentation is light, exquisitely sym- 
metrical, and very fine indeed. 

II. Shaded block italic, by A. Caulo — ex- 
treme slant — 1845, page 75, Roman, 

t2. German text alphabet, nourished style, 
good flourishing, free, open and excellent — 1845, 
page 75. 

13. Ornamented text and old English — semi 
block and 111 three styles, all good. 

14. Oru amen Led pointed antique alphabet, 
double block — page 79. There can be no finer 
letters ; no letters look sci well with close medium 
engrossing on certain kindsof llmirishing. These 
letters give more life to a sheet or card than any 

15. Ornamented Tuscan and antique alphabets 
— two varieties ; tin; uppei alphabet is a favorite 
one with masters. The last, very rich, dark and 
fine in expression ; a good thing in almost any 
designing — the last is block with double lining. 

10. Ornamented .scnpt alphabet, 1S45, page 
83. book ; this is fair and in block character. 

17. Very large ornamented German text — 
bass relief style and in very rich and diversified 
scroll-sketching. 1'nge 85, book. The method 
01 fashion of many of these letters is new and 
exUuisite. This alphabet, although vei> n.li, 1- 
vejy easy. 

18. Ribbon text alphabet, by A. Caulo, page 
87. book. We have here an alphabet full of 
complications, ornamental almost to excess, but 
the very best thing in this sort of designing in 
the book. 

ig. Ornamented antique alphabet, leaf and 
scroll bases— block ; the tops plain scroll shadows, 
heavy, and type of letter, very flue semi gothic, 
another very popalai lettei . il is not surpassed 
111 richness, 01 to set o(I surrounding works. 
I 



20. Ornamented Roman alphabet This 

alphabet is very neat but plain, and is the lasl of 
this set. Although very unpretentious, Ibis 
alphabet is of great practical utility. 

1. Reineck's church text, | ige 9; 1 1 I 

ably line. We cannot help admiring the capitals 
especially, and the small alphabet is scared) 
inferior. This church text will probably never 
be surpa-sed in tin- kind of lettering. 

2. The monastic alphabet needs no comment. 
Between pages 95 and 100 

3. The engrossing text alphabet. This alpha- 
bet should ever be considered in the light of use. 
It is an alphabet of fitness for its uses, and aside 
from that, it has no great value. 

4. Engrossing alphabet with figure ■■.. piyi- o>i 
This alphabet, also, is another for 1 legitimate 
purpose. 



Page 105 gives three alphabets b) this master; 
all in style, conception, and execution, excellent! 

The 1 ii.ui will 1. ud letters here to mil hfs 

fancy, and of great practical utility. I n the 
second line from the bottom he will find four or 
five methods of letters, all excellent. 

Mayer's text on the next plate ; three kinds is 
new in manner, very rich in design and orna- 
mentation, and of the best found in any work. 

The middle alphabet is extremely fine. There 
can be, for small text, no richer ornamentation. 
The upper alphabet is new in cast, well worth 
copying and using. These three alphabets will 
be popular here no doubt. 

Next comes Mayer's highly embellished capi- 
tals. Here is a study again for American pen- 
men ! This full set is well worth one half the 
price of the book. Every letter is a study, and 
from each many hints may be drawn for other 
work. The amount of orni 
ishing in this set of letters. 

'i hi -■■ ilphabi 1- -1 Mayei 






.lie, 



s are found grouped 
nolher. The la; 
be the penman's 

1 of ihis 



spoken of we unagin 

favorite alphabet. Th 

semi text is rapidly sketched ; it is in character, 

It has endless variety of scroll leaf, etc. It will 

work well in large letters anywhere. ' 

Right here appears two pages of Mayer': 
lam y h 11, ,.. I I,, r n , 1 lette i 1- V 2\ 
th. ' . ■ . 1 t tni bloi k, the orha 
scroll and leaf work, literally loaded with 
and original conceits. On the right is B, 
■>\it , another letter of suggestive design m lyl. 
and manner, wholly foreign to American 

The third is a centre piece, D, 2 inch letter, ; 
inch ornamentation. This letter has a diamond 
base in light and heavy scroll ami base 
with rustic double rack. But the best thing i 
it is the scroll work in the centre of the letter. 
We ask you to try your hand at this method 1 
scroll, heavy and rich beyond comparison. Til 
designs are well worth study. 

There are other studies on this plate, but 
must pass them. 

The next plale to Mayer's last here, gives f 
a D, rustic ; then F, semi block, in light. 

The centre design on this plate- is also v 
line. There is no finer study of contrast in style 
and ornament than we have on this page. 

This artist as a master of letter designing, 
believe the best; still wc are slow to say fi 
of any man. We can imagine nothing mi 
beautiful or more artistic than Mayer's wo 
But there is more than this to his work. It hai 
an original cast wherever found, extremely r 
and rare, We see in every letter the work of 1 
great and finished ailist, and we fear that no 
American will ever be able to smpas- many . 



We find the most satisfactory presentation 
American pen art in this book. Nothing of r 
utility is omitted. Designs in nourishing, 

also practical writing, are given, that have n 
been surpassed ; and there are instruction! 
both teachers and pupils— the fullest and 1 
complete information in regard to inks, papet 
and pens, with hints lor lettering ami card writ- 
ing of every possible- kind. 

One quality is never wanting in these pan 

graphs, to wit, brevity. The instructions 

easily understood. Tin' studies in il Mm. 

by some of our best penmen, are ver) Mm- I lie 
are marvels of elegant design, : I ■ ." L 
stamped with originality, which s 
niarkeil leature ol the book. 

This is the first work ever produced of 
kind ; it is a new and genuine utilization of 
good things of both continents, 1 tropi 
America. We expect to see ■ new irnpul :e gin 
penmanship .is ,1 pndessiun, iml tir, ,.» 
more thorough work in pen-sketching. Thi 
book is the new broom that is going to -we 
clean, and the designs from penmen which 



■ follow will be o 



and finish, 



THE PENMAN'S GAZETTE. 



Text tind Old English. 



and old English admit of more 
in the Way of flourishes, than any 
other lettering, and ire as rich and appropriate 

lot most oin.mn ulal |.u i '.-, a- anything ilia! tan 

be done. The learner should take the greatesi 

I >ains in arranging the letters that the spacing 
may be uniform, as well as that the same uni- 

fo v m iv regulate the size and slope. As a 

guide, he should rule pencil mark- both hori on- 
i il an. I n-mcal. After the nourishing about the 
words iv done, these marks may be easily erased 
with a soft rubber, without disturbing ihe ink 

Both German text and old English may be 
Written with one Stroke of the quill, and the 
main strokes afterward sharpened and otherwise 

improved, with an ordinary steelpen. The best 

pen is a broad-nibbed quill (mOSl penmen pol.-r 
thai of the turkey, softened by holding it either 

hi i Ik- mouth "i (n warm water, before making 

lli' pen) The nib of the ['en is made broad, to 
correspond with the width of the main down 



glowing image shall remain lived in 1 1 ni 1 1 In] 
characters for all time. 

How much of the honeyed speech and sweet 
song of the ancient: was lost for want of an 
enduring embodiment ? Some of those noble 
speeches in the forum and the temple ; some of 
those inimitable songs in the courts of the 
emperors; some of those fables woven "I the 
mysticism and lire of tile oriental mind — what 
would we not give for them to-day? But they 
have perished forever. A day's, or a week's, or 
a year's delight, perhaps, were they to a few 
score or hundred souls, and then like a lingering 
echo, they gradually died away, and the world 
will never hear them again. We should be very 
thankful for (he writings and chronicles which 
have survived to us, but they are only a frag- 
ment of the great mass of the products of human 
genius in the heroic age. The models of oratory 
the gems of song and of story, have perished 
with the generations which cherished them. 

This is distinctively the age of literature — not, 
perhaps, in the sense of production, but in the 
cumulative sense of possession, in the actual 
existence of inspired letters. We have the 



and mi which, as ii were, is crj 
whole contents of human endeavor, should be 
perfectly performed. And yet it is more fre- 
quently looked upon as a thing of mere second- 
ary importance, winch it is not worth while to 
give much attention to anyway, the idea is the 
main thing— lei the expression taki i 

i| Mo- reasoning is soon discovered. 
The expression does take care of itself, and the 
consequence is that it not only comes out very 
badly itself, but ruins the idea which it is 
intended to convey. A poor manuscript is worse 
lli.m a poor picture, 01 a pooi song, because 
there are higher and more important thought 
relations intrusted to it, and a perversion of them 
i- worse than the perversion of light and shade. 
and perspective or the jingling reiteration of a 
sentiment. There is no excuse for the man 
llcgible hand. All penmanship, 



• be 



be i 



the s 



being beautiful, but it can all display the beauty 
of fitness, in the sense of being clear and legible. 
Some of the blunders into which compositors 
have fallen in the deciphering of illegible manu- 
re npu, should be sufficiently suggestive and 



Genius in its very essence is what the Latins call 
proprium, self-consistent; it is simply large apti- 
tude for perfed naturalness. The man of genius 

is Ihe man of large, round, representative nature ; 

he is the type-man of the race, its most compre- 
hensive embodiment. There can be nothing 
narrow, or bigoted, or erratic about true genius. 
:tion, then, between il 
■e is between itai and 
may show an execra- 
fault, not his accom- 



and pen writing, than t) 
fireflies A gifted writ 
ble handwriting — that i 



plishment. It may not even be hi- natural 
peculiarity, He may have come by il through 
sheer carelessness and neglect. 

An. .ili. i i 1 ..--.., |" illegible manuscripts arc those 
of the hasty writer. What a forlorn and lie- 
mm all/ 1 n- look Hi.-) have, these hurried -< law I- 1 
\ "on can read the dancing neivoiwies- md wild- 
eyed agony of the writer between the lines, Me 
doc- n.'i slop to half form Ins letters. His loops 
He nevei completed, his i's and e's are jusi 
alik< '■■■! SO are his I'S and t's Every word 
seems to jump at the next with a wild gasp oj 
entreaty — " hurry along ! hurry along ' there an 
thousands of us yet to come 1 " I quc-liuil 




Strokes. In beginning and elo.-ing the strokes, 
Ihe pen is turned, when H is necessary to sharpen 
them at the top and bottom. A little practice 
enable! anyone In become quite proficient in 
this style of lettering. 

[ The alphabet given on litis page is to he done 
with .' ttielpen mid India in*.] 



[For Ike PfHiH.iu's G,itelte.\ 

x Chapter mi Hannsorlpls, 



1 hi besi pari dI the world's intelligence al 
tin present day passes into writing. The day 
of the orator and the story-tellei and the harping 
bard is long gone by. The splendid flight of 
eloquence, the tale of the romancer, the song of 

.i].l"\ the ( writing as their 

in-t .iii.i most intimate expression. Speech is 

too Heeling, and song too changeful .uni vague, 
lo be their medium of utterance. The statesman 
as well as the scholar, ihe orator as well as the 
c-ssayist, the poet as well as the annalist, tran- 
Cribi Li thought before it falls from the lip of 
man, so thai when sound and memory shall both 
havi t ,.i, .i ,v. is, the noble conception and the 



treasures of human thought and of divine revela- 
tion, ordered and preserved in the utmost per- 
fection of form. The writings have passed into 
books, and ihe books into libraries, and in these 
great storehouses of wisdom, we have laid up 
nearly all that is worth keeping, since the days 
when men first began to express their best 
thoughts in writing — and only since then. The 
introduction of the pen into ihe realm of wisdom 
and of genius, marks, then, the starting point of 
literature. Hie first manuscript was the greatest 
and most valuable achievement of human skill. 
Then first began the reign of wisdom, and of 
knowledge and culture, which has made the 
world what u jj to-day, ami whit h, above all other 
agencies, will make il what il is lo be a thousand 
years hence. The art ot" writing is the noblest 
and most valuable of all the arts 

The making of manuscripls, then, is the most 
important and significant act which men per- 
form All knowledge- and all genius must pass 
into this form, or perish. The pen is the one 
universal instrument of all men and all classes >■! 
men. The making of a manuscript is about Ihe 
first thing that is done toward the accomplish- 
ment of any design in life. How important, 
then, thai this act upon which so much depend-, 



mortifying to their authors, and lo all writers, li 
cause ihem lo either straighten out their pot 
hooks, or buy a type-writer. Then an trariou 
kinds of blind manuscripts lo be met with in : 
printing office, but perhaps the mosi aggravating 
is the intentionally obscure. It would surprise a 
person not intimately acquainted with the de>- 
perate vanity of the human heart, to know that 
there is a certain large class of writers who actu- 
ally put themselves out to make their manu- 
scripts look erratic and distinguished. They 
adopt, usually, the little, black, stub pen. pro- 
cumbent scrawl peculiar to some old and famous 
writers, whose pen hand, through excessive u-c, 
has got to be about as shaky and infirm as any 
other worn out piece of mechanism. They, with 
their fresh young nerves and clear cut natural 
style of penmanship, will study Ihese decrepit 
scrawls, and practice a like infirmity, till they 
verily succeed in outdoing the original and he- 
coming chirugraphically hall before their muscles 
have hardened. They seem to think that there 
i> something immature and commonplace in a 

g I. I.'ii, round script. Cienius, ihey say, 

shows itself erratic and peculiar in all its ways , 
ihe man ol genius wtites like no one else They 
ire wrong, both in pre and conclusion. 



whether the poor, self-torturing, hasty writer, 
with all hi. shamed precipitancy, can aveiage 
as many words in the hour as a more leisurely 
penman, who writes a llowing hand and makes 
all his letters plain. There is an exhilaration 
and a restfulness in good penmanship ulinji .< 
scrawler cannot enjoy. He wastes his energy 
in a mad spurt, and all the rest ,,l the way In 
stagger- like a tiled runner. 

I might allude to other kinds of illegible 
manuscripls, were they so scarce as lo have 
escaped ihe attention of my readers, but it is 
unnecessary. Everyone has seen enough speci- 
mens of bad penmanship in be acquainted with 
all its general forms. The point which I would 

emphasize i- this Poor, -.llpsh.id pelon 'ii lii]. i 

a reproach lo anyone, no matter what his sta- 
tion or employment. 1 contend that the first 
educational duty, after learning lo icid well, i . 
lo learn to write well — not merely to learn lo 

wnie ii is certain thateveryoni will be called 

upon to perform this manual act over and over 
again. No kind of business, lo-day, however 
li ble, is ex< mpt from the use ol ihe pen, to a 

■■:.." i 01 I' I (tl <<■■ W I mil .1 all of US be 

writers, and w< oughi allot as to be good writers. 
Much depends on it. We may not be beautiful 



THE PENMAN'S GAZETTE. 



thai 



jr even regular writers, but we can all 
writers We can make each letter so 

1 be unmistakable in its character and 
»Ot I h 11 is the Secret of a good manuscript, 
d pmctics on that line will eventually mike 
;e'a manuscript beautiful. 



{For Ih* Ptnman't Gaulle.) 

Mr. .Smith's Experiment. 

tun i in it iff is coming Run, girls, quick ' 
coming, let's go to the school 
house before he see-, us," and the group of young 
girls who had been quietly sitting in the shadow 
DJ the pine woods at noon time, hurriedly rose, 
;ts one of their school males, from her perch in a 
low fi.il, ol iree, caught a glimpse of the road, 
and warned them of the approach of an always- 
dreaded visitor, the school supervisor, or com- 
mittee, as he is more frequently called in country 

"The girls left dinner baskets and unfinished 
luncheons undei the trees in their haste to join 
uiiici mates .it the school building before the 

carriage, rattling down .i long pebbly hill, should 
come in view of them. Panting and breathless, 
the whole troop rushed into the school room, 
where was their teacher, a young girl, but one 
whose education had been liberal, and who con- 
stantly labored to run her school out of time- 
worn ruts, and often succeeded, in spite of the 
stubborn opposition one meets in isolated farm- 
nig communities, where strong wills as well as 
strong muscles develop. 

~>hc was copying topics for the afternoon re- 
views on the black, or rather white, boards, when 
she was startled by her entire school coming in 
pell inell. some by the door, some by the low, 
open window, and all shouting, "Teacher, the 
committee man is coming! He ha- gol most 

" My scholars, will you take your seats quiet- 
ly." Her low, firm voice and undisturbed man- 
Dei had the desired effect upon the excited, un- 
cultured group. They filed into their places 
and commenced fanning their very warm, red 
faces with straw hats and atlas covers, while the 
committee, a stlinl.nly appearing, middle aged 
man, fastened his horse in the shadow of a sand 
bank, so frequently looming up by country 

parcel from his carnage and entered the low 
doorway without any ceremony, save a pleasant 
bow to the scholars and to their teacher, who 
uttered him a seat, "I am visiting schools of 
uui lown, and have run in to see if yours bids 
fair, as I hear, to be the banner school this 

"I say, mister, what you got in thai green 
boxth?" loudly lisped a five year old boy from 

A look from his teacher quenched him, and 
io hide his confusion, he stood his open reader 
and spelling book on his desk, and from behind 

them took stealthy observations. 

After calling several classes into the Hour and 
examining their text books, asking each one a 
lew questions, in a pleasant, social way, to put 
the blushing, self conscious boys and girls at 
case, he reviewed them on iheir previous week's 
work, for it was only ihe second week of the 
it mi ami was f.ivoiably impressed with the 

thoroughness and ability of their teacher His 



" A lirsl class teacher 
ian, good ability, good 
B of my compcudiuins, 
; virtues among these 



mental comments were 
here, excellent disciplina 
spunk. I'll leave her on 
and let her fight loi it; 
stubborn willed old farmt 

When the last class had been dismissed, and 
the scholars were again in their seats, quiet and 
interested, theii rode, impudent curiosity sup- 
planted with intelligent, cagei interest in all he 
might say. Mr. Smith, thei i supervisor, turned to 
the little fellow whose barricade of books had 
fallen unnoticed m his eagerness to hear and see 
all he could : " Here is a little boy who wanted 
to know what is in this green box. Now, my 
young friends, we will see." Mr. Smith quickly 
... hi kiL.it- .in. I ii ii ivi i i.l in ^ ,i n ii -s, took from the 
box & package containing "GaskelTs i ompen- 
dlum." ■This ts my writing book, scholars, I 

practice copying this plain, beautiful writing. 
every day when 1 can find lime. If I am loo 
large to attend school, 1 am not too old to learn 
tu write well, When I was a little schoolboy, 
IU) teachers— WC used to change them every 

term — would set me copies on my slate or in a 

copy book for me to follow, and I would try very 
hard to write exactly as they did. 

I .. : . (I,... 



as you do, and I would copy their fine, feminine 
handwriting, till I wrote almost like a young 
lady myself. 

'In the winter terms, when all the rough young 
men in the neighborhood attended, we always 
had a master lo teach and ferule us as the case 
might be. Some of them wrote a bold, dashing 
hand, others great round letters so plain anil 
large, one could read notices they printed and 
tacked on to our school house dour from the 

" An uncle had promised me a situation as 
book-keeper in hi- Store just as soon as I was 
competent for the place — if I would become a 
good penman. This was why I was so ambi- 
tious to write well. My boys and girls, you 
can'l know how hard I tried to excel in this 
branch of study. 1 copied slowly and faithfully 
every copy set me. I cramped my fingers over 
my lady teachers' dainty running words ; I 
Sprawled and splashed ink over as much space 
,is did my careless, dashing masters; then I 
would curl my fingers around my penholder, 
stiffen my wrist and knuckles in all manner of 
ungainly, uncomfortable twists and positions, 
trying to make the great round letters of some 
other master's style, It was impossible for me 
to learn to write agoodhand under such circum- 
stances. My penmanship was a mixture of all 
three styles. 

" Doubtless your copy books have engraved 
copies, and by using a series faithfully, of any of 
the standard books — not copying writing aftei 
this one and that one — you can all become 
good penmen. I notice a good many men 
of my age, business men as well as those who 
Write less, write like a little school girl, all 
owing, I think, to their feminine pen training 
when young. When I was a boy, I had never 
seen a writing book with a printed copy. Some- 
times my mother sewed a do/en targe sheets of 
paper together for my copy book ; sometimes I 
would have one from the store with blank pages 
and bright yellow covers, gay with a spread 
eagle, no explanation of elements and principles 
of letters, no rules for position or movement, 
whatever. Two years ago I saw this Compen- 
dium advertised, and thinking one might help 
me improve my penmanship without a teacher, I 
senl one dollar and received m-i wlui ! ne/id-fii. i 

i nn snowing you. Here 
are all the small letters as well as the capi- 
tals, thoroughly analyzed, and plain, minute di- 
rc< lions, many of ihcm illustrated, for position, 
holding pen, movement, shading, etc. It is a 
complete, self-teaching course of study, with 
work enough laid out to last a lifetime, if one 
cared to take up all it contains. I have practic- 
ed copying these slips in my spare moments for 
two years, and am called a correct penman, and 
have constant calls to teach writing schools, pri- 

" I would spare you, children, from such an ex- 
perience as mine. Doubtless, I never can ac- 
quire such perfect ease of motion and harmony 
of shades had I not cramped muscles of hand 
and wrist in so much worse than useless copy- 
ing 

"Scholars, I want each one of you lo show 
me your writing material.., now , books, pens, 
holders and ink, that 1 may judge if you are 
properly supplied with material for becoming 
good penmen." 

The scholars, who had been listening with in- 
tense interest to his words, commenced, at once, 
lo rummage then desks. Such a medley as was 
presented, when the things asked for were 
brought forward. Uroken slates, sheets of dirty 
paper and blank leaves from old, yellowed ac- 
count books, sewed in book form, a few writing 
books with ruled lines but minus copies, save 
the- girlish handwriting at the top of the first 
few leaves. One little girl, who had never writ- 
ten before, had No. 4 of I'aysou s\ Duncan'- se- 
ries, bought for her by an ambitious mother, 

A curious smile flitted over (he teacher's face 
as she saw the expression on Ihe supervisor's, as 
he examined penholders of quills, of split sticks, 
of wood, awkwardly curved or much too large 
111 circumference. Their pens, most of them, 
wen wretched— cast off, rusted, twisted, pointed 
" r greasy— ones (hat their fathers 01 oldei sisters 
had discarded and given them, ignorantly think- 
ing thai any pen that will make a mark is good 
enough for a little child lo scratch and slab his 
■ opiee a ttb at school. ._< 

With an indignant sweep of his arm, then new 
iound friend swept the pile of rusty pens and 
their holders, excepting a few quills, into the 
stove, and from the green bos produced a nuiii- 



bei of Gaskell's steel pens. To each pupil he 
gave one of these pens with a sensible holder. 
and to their teacher a box of ihe pens. 

lie next examined ihe inks they were using, 
trying botlle after bottle and condemning nearly 
all by pouring it out of the door. Some were 
mouldy, leaving blots; some would not run 
well ; some too thin, and others full of Hies or 
other foreign substances. 

A little child rinsed the bottles deal with 
water before he partially idled them with ink 
from a large bottle he produced from thai same 
generous green box. 

" II is exasperating," he exclaimed, lo the 
teacher, '■ to see little children thus shamefully 
imposed upon. The poorest pen in the house, 
some bottle of old, mouldy or walery, colorless 
ink. thai their father can't use, is given them- 
and they are sent lo school with the expectation 
ihey will become good writers, to this teacher 
and to that teacher; sonic- who, like yourself, 
write s pretty, running hand, bul. begging your 
pardon, totally unfit foi boys to copy, and lo 
other teachers, who in setting copies, spell al- 
most as badly as they write," 

After requesting Ihe scholars lo go on with 
their alternoon's work thai lie had delayed, he 
turned to their teacher, and lowering his voice, 
discussed with her the best method of teaching 
her classes in penmanship. She told him of the 
stubborn natures she had lo encounter in the 
neighborhood, of the niggardliness of some of 
the parents ; how she had visited each family, 
trying to persuade them lo buy their children a 
standard w riling book of the same sent-, but they 
thought the fifteen cents an extravagant demand, 
and refused. She told him how she had request- 
ed green paper shades for the school room's 
glaring windows to shield ihe children from the 
scorching sun, and had been obliged to get them 
at her own expense, for the district's agent had 
told her lhal school had been taught in that house 
for forty years, summer and winter, and no one 
had ever before asked for curtains, If the sun 
got loo bright, to pin up a shawl or a newspaper. 
She told him of the blunt refusal she had receiv- 
ed when she asked that the blackboards might 
be repainled, for iheir surfaces were worn so 
white, chalk marks were hardly distinguishable, 



ash barrel for crayons She told him she was 
obliged lo teach her arithmetic classes orally 
from the boards, because their text books were 
so dissimilar, "It is a fact, Mr. Smith, I have 
fifteen varieties of readers in school, and as the 
parents would not help me to lessen the- number 
of classes, 1 appealed to a kind editor, and he 
sent me a do/en copies of his excellent weekly 
newspaper. I use them in place of readers for 
the older pupils with great success. 

- Many of these children, Mr. Smith, will not 
again attend a summer term of school, and but 
lew more winter ones, Like yourself, I am very 
anxious they should become legible, if not beau- 
tiful writers, during the ten weeks 1 expect to 
be with them. It is for you to plan how." 

" I think we can manage in this way," he 
hi iwered ' I will take these two boards in my 
carriage to-night to some paintc-r in the village, 
and lliey will be ready for your use by day after 
1 i-miiim 1 will see you are supplied with a 
long nilcr, colored ciayons, erasers, etc., and the 

1 hildn 11 « nil ruled paper that -hall correspond 
to the scale of lengths used in the Compendium. 
I am very anxious to introduce Ihis common 
sense, easily learned, and graceful penmanship 
into our town schools. I shall leave this one 
with you, and from the boards you must teach 

youi h g class, I shall visit your school 

again the- last of the term, and if this experi- 
ment of blackboard writing proves successful, I 
I. ill uui... luce this system of penmanship into 
all the schools over which I have supervision." 

He looked the Compendium ovei with her, 
advising whal portions of it to use, laying aside 
much thai was too elaborate or advanced for the 
n si ol del school, and suggesting ways lo rouse 
and hold their interest in this much neglected 
branch of Study. 

The sun was nearly down behind the sand 
hills before the scholars were dismissed that 
afternoon, ami the blackboards on thi. ir w a\ 10 
the paint shop 

The children hastened home, eager to lell all 
thi 1 had heard and seen, but as the new project 
promised lo cost the in nothing and might save 
them buying n few cents' worth of paper, ink 
and pens, [he parents made no objection, and 
the writing class flourished like parsley plants 



The children had few bad habits in writing to 
overcome. They had never received an] train 
11 ion, holding pen. movements, etc , 
so they easily learned the COrrei 1 

Ten weeks -if faithful, daily practice, showed 
improvement fai beyond Mi Smith's most san- 

'j expectations ihe children were proud 

of their neat copy 1 1- Some of the older 

scholars declared they should buy for themselves 
,1 Com] endium ™<] practice in writing as thtrj 
found time through the fall, until the winter 
term commenced, 

The last day of school the room was tilled 

wiih visitors, who 1 heai then child* 

It'll'- ex.li a , -mum,, ,Ii,i|,, l .,i, .. .oi,| i„ ,1 1 

lions. The exercises passed pleasantly. Perhaps 
none of them afforded more pleasun than thi 
concert exercises Of Ihe writing class. Even the 
little ones could take part in them, keeping per- 
fect nun ut vein.- ni as lliey repeated and 

wrote in concert, " up stroke, down stroke, right 
curve, left curve." en 

M'l'- "I paper eonl.ti g sp c ens ot their 

penmanship, and the names of the writers, were 

freely distributed among the visitors. 

The care lines on tired mothers' faces relaxed, 
and sad expressions brightened, as they saw the 
plain, beautiful letters and words on the slip of 

paper p.is-cd them, and below them theii own 

child's name. Two old fanners, in blue drill- 
ing fiocks, sat together in a front ■- 
in behind the narrow space. Each of them 
specimen slips, and were balancing their 1 
tacles with one hand, as with the other ihey 
brought the slip of paper with its writing within 
the 1 iglll 1 .mil.'.'- "I tin 11" iliiiMiiei.1 evcsigllt 

" I tell you whal, Jones," said one, as he 
his son's name at the bottom of ihe slip, 
David is a master hand at drawing and writing. 
See how sort of natural like that bird looks 
perched On that tree limb. Looks like a hack- 
malack's branch. Look at those capilal letters, 
even as printed wriling, with curves as ti 
easy sweeping as an oar's track in the Wi 
tell you whal, my Davy is going lo make his 
mark in the world. He is scribbling and nour- 
ishing with his pen every minute he 1 
from the work. The new lawyer at ihe village 
want, him tin- fall to copy law papers for him. 



wrote for me, and tacked on the post office door, 
and called the wriling as handsome as any he 
ever saw, and the best part of it is" — here the 
two men leaned over the desk a little ne; 
gether— " il hasn't cost you nor I nary a 

Clarissa Potter. 



\\ I' 1 ooper knows what he writes about i 
describing Ihe " Penman's Hand Book." As a 
ornamental penman, he has long ranked 1 
of the besl in this country. His engrossing is of 
the very finest description. 

U»rT He Cooked Tlit'tn. 

Several years ago a genuine specimen of the 

genus Yankee emigrated from the central part c 
Maine, where he had spent the whole of his life, 
to a well known town on the eastern shore He 
had never seen an oyster, except m its canned 
condition, and was naturally anxious 10 know 
what kind of an animal or vegetable n w .<- uik 
bright fall morning soon after he had , 
his new home, he was leaning contemplatively 
over Ihe front gale when a cart full of the bi- 
valves drew near 
"Oysters! Oysters! Any good oyst 

" How much are they?" asked the New Sdjb 

lander, stepping out lo ex 

■ 1 orty ■ ■- nts ,i bushel." 

"Waal, 1 guess I'll lake a peck liut look . 
here, stranger, how do you cook them things?" 

"Different ways, sir. Some pei 
sonic masts 'em ; but they mostly slews 'em. 
cooks cm in water awhile, puts a little milk i 
and season 'em with pepper and sail MnVt. 
first class this way." 

"All right ; I guess we'll try '1 

The oysters were duty delivered and paid I'm . 
! ' LI Ij in the morning. I, ate in the 

afternoon, about eight hours aftei th 
spindle legs of the \ Ulkl 

measuring theii longest strides down the streej 

Fire was in In in his mien 

He soon reached thi crow 

slreel corner, and al ono singled out the mai 

from wlmm he had purchased the ■■>' 



"You're a gol darned humbug' you're a 

heat I a vile swindler, an " 

" Whal ilve mean "-" growled thi 

, you sold me, Vou said they 



THE PENMAN'S GAZETTE. 



re good. 
a lolc! nx 
'Yes" 
• \V«al, ' 



: put the blamed things on the stove 
ling, and they ain't soft yet . though 

they've been boding hot for eight hours " 

"You lank-sided bald-faced idiot, why didnl 
you take the shells oh"? The oyster's inddi 
"The thunder it is I Then why didn't you 



-.huck> his oysters before he cooks them. 



if a nig ^ritnds and Hit jfjnblic: 

; for years followed the profes' 



The undersigned, who hi 
inline is familiar in all parts nf 
to "know of the first instance wr 



n-ork has failed 



n of Cud- 




and whose 


INKS 


to armour 


C III! 


he has >'■' 


Hi.ua. 




isfacti 




Hkowh, 


« 


£ 




Scu.Lirr. 




EVERYBODY WANTS GOOD INK 

will Mod to any one for J)9 t**t* 

eope lY.r milcins ihe tnl/i<tnt 61., I 
■ used by the leading penmen of the 

at demand. Ink CUH10I bt 'tni b] in.nl 
I the expro« charges onaunall qu*n 

■ 
be a very salable article at a big profit any- 
where wnere people are It all 

regard to iheir penmanship 
Yom, e Men and Boys wi 
Ink Manu* 



c . film- named in iinrtflii, 



small or Targe icale. 
*di! including the 



1 1,,-.,.. .,,.■ the only ge 
I. B. HASKELL,, 



teighbon and 

to the puhlif. 



,s: lt |T« 
; y " r fh'« 



^nV'l';" 



to* 






OF TULLY, 


N. V 


Who is one of the finest Card W 


iten m 








ne.1 A 


every town in the United States. 




most beautiful Agent's Book of Si 
















Capital* — Send 35 cents lo 





highly prized by si 

CAPITALS, ';r.t7* 

Brilliant Black Ink Recipe, 

Hoping to receive your o 



Lours Madarasz. 

P. 0. BOX 2105 NEW YORK CITY 



»3?s« THE WORLD: Six " Th »»™. d . &*" 



HISTORICAL & ACTUAL 



WARD'S nmiiiM) M'KKl, PENS. 

Md by ALL prominent penmen, i gross. S(.a S ; % gr., 
,c Simploi for 3:. lUmp, Esell» Bio:,, Z CLlnlsa Place, H. 7. 



WHAT HAS BEEN AND WHAT NOW IS. 

ITS RELATIONS TO OTHER 
BEFORE MAN; ANCIENT 



rawing of Garfield, 



WANTED— «■> •.< 
it 30 cents each. 

n Cards, to wh< 



.-,,-dr.lwr, 

Jnivbbsal 

(The regular 



OUR GLOBE IN ITS RELATIONS 
"ORLDS AND BEI 
NATIONS IN THE ORDER 
; THE M1DD 
[EIR DARKNESS 

E OF THE _.__ 
GRADUAL EMERGENCE FROM 
LIGHT ~ 
AND AS THE, Now 



,\ ■ .!'l.|.-. 

NS IN THE ORDER Ol 

ANMtjUl IV , THE MIDDLE AGES 
AND -" 

ihe present people of the ear 

■■ e: 

barbarism into i he sunlight of 

lu DAY AND AS THEY NOW 
STAND UPON THE PLANE OF CIVILIZATION, 



GASKELL'S 
DM OF 

EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, LEGAL 
AND COMMERCIAL. 




leading Number): 14, 048, 130, 333, 181. 
For Sale by all Stationers. 



An Elegantly Illustrated Quarto Volume ol 600 Page! 
By Prof. G. A. GASKELL. 




THE PENMAN'S GAZETTE. 



unmans Gazette 




ADVERTISING RATES. 



G. A. GASKELL, 

1R34. NEW YORK CITY ! 



-ASKE-btfS 

THE LARGEST AND FINEST WORK OF THE KIND IN THE WORLD ! 




WHITE'S PHONOGRAPHY. 



Languagix by I 



Embraces a HiMor-, of Hnimf, with/:,,- ,/„,■//, illnst. ,.iio„; from ..mi. r.t manuscript- ; many Complete Alphal 

e lead.ng Pen Artists of fo C l..,,d. 1'rance and Germany . ' >....- <..t -■■ I- '■,. f L- i ■ and Regnier. of Par 

aciical and Ornamental Pcnn,;iiiship l,y Ml .-.f ,ii-,U-t I'tnmcn uhk l.' n ii<d States. Also chapters on Teachin 

"-'up. H" = •■• I -ttrr Wmm,,,:. HI! I!.,,,,! Khniri-h,,^, II., u I,, IV, ,,,,,■ ^n,-,-i„„-,i< for Ph..t,-,.E„ C r.iviiin. Wriiint 

■I Invitations, etc. 1 r ..-. boot I, ,. ,|, .,,,:„,.!■ .,, ,I..M,, ; The price is *s oo To tt,o-e who h.iv t pt.r.h.,.. 



Read an extract frc 
fession : 
"Inasmuch as certain 

Xrw Sort have <t.. f ,c. 
the best and quickest si 

also to he H I i ,p| 

r PUUUCXY CH/ 



n his Challenge to t 
professional shorthand i 



■all not be lu 
fame. I suggest 






tin le.dine penntlk .U. wr.le .- lollop oi the Pbnman's TroF. C. A. GASKELL. Lo rr^'i'n X^,, '" 'T' C ' ! " ; ' 1 '° uV 1°?'^""'' 

HANDBOOK: Ztetr &V .- Being a great adm.rcr of fine pcumanship.it KSftSSffiS \ ,1 V 

-The Penman's Hand Hook was received last week. It » hardly necessary for me to inform yon that 1 am v„y hon of , ,i,-m.d m.mr, wmtn, l, ( Yl'./.,mphV«. And'thatai 

[V'.'ri-c''l-l'? , | 1 'r'--m^'h! , i'-d'.' 'll'iVof^hKh^ fu'l'r' l'f '' -, 'l 'ooK ^ "'h'-Vh't'r ,'<:.. ' '■ I b "w-.k'm ^!-lV ..'m'-V' '*'' ' ' ,3fe "? ,llC mo * 1 

aminaiion of it, 1 discovered I so many beauties in it. and ship that I have ever ^ec-n, ,r.d 1 ihmk » .11 t , .■<■*■ ,. I,, I,. , v .,,, m ' ', ,| ' ,./ ',.,'■.', "t"he M.hjea 

, " l ;t';V v V' '',' ■ '■","' " '" '■ ,0 " n L ' <i " ' h - rf i'' n/, V '' C "'7? n ,"V 1 C, .T y , " ,ml VI"'^ 11 - "oi'- Messrs. Miin.nn.i;,, h, m , „..! ...her instructors ,rr par.,, 




Coil ins. King. Mountain (High School), N. C 




R„ 1 ».nf„llv. " v _ 

— t„1 l LTv H ; >-"' ^-^y ^7A_y 

c better acquainted with you. ' Prof. Gaskbll. New York *\ C\ -^ ,1 

I remain, yours sincerely, Dear Sir ; The Penman's Hand Book came to hand in J f.'\ (_\ A '^A ; 

10HN I HARVEY, due time. [ have carefully examined it and HMUnfb Z/^- L ^-> ^- P** // ^ 

Care Albany tfew> Co, Albany, N, Y. pronounce it the champion of the world in that line, lo ^ , 

this neighborhood. Yours truly, ' \ — — r J^ r 

R. W A. HARSHBARGER. \, ' 



H. B SEGUR. 

' a copy. AGENTS WANTED. It is 

Prof. G. A. GASKELL, Publisher, 



, , [ :: ^riy.r^°